Dispencing from the top of a keg

BeerCanuck · 01-04-2008, 06:03 AM

Hi HBTer's
Ever notice that the first few beers that you pour might be influenced by the trub at the bottom of the keg? What if the beers came from the top of the keg?

Basic premise is shortening the output tube on a standard keg to incorporate the attachment of a flexible hose. The other end of the hose has a float and input to allow beer to drain from the top of the keg. The beer would enter in from this submerged input that is also attached to the float.

I have already shortened the output tubes of my kegs to avoid the trub at the bottom but this idea might work out even better.

Cheers

BeerCanuck

edited: due to gallery changes

Professor Frink · 01-04-2008, 06:14 AM

The only problem I see is that if it's floating on the top of the beer, how do you avoid pulling up CO2 from above the beer as well?

Jo3sh · 01-04-2008, 06:43 AM

I don't think a pint with sediment is a big problem, myself - after that (or two at the most) the beer seems to run pretty clear for me.

But just for the sake of argument seems to be good enough for many homebrewers.

I'd think you'd have trouble finding tubing flexible enough to float effectively at serving temperatures, yet rigid enough not to kink. And even assuming you were able to avoid drawing gas from above the beer, you'd just get sediment at the end of the keg instead of at the beginning.

WBC · 01-04-2008, 07:59 AM

I had that problem sometimes but I was not waiting long enough for the beer to clear. If you ferment 2 weeks in the primary then you should be able to siphon off clear beer. It works for me.

Funkenjaeger · 01-04-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo3sh

I'd think you'd have trouble finding tubing flexible enough to float effectively at serving temperatures, yet rigid enough not to kink. And even assuming you were able to avoid drawing gas from above the beer, you'd just get sediment at the end of the keg instead of at the beginning.

+1 on both counts.

BeerCanuck · 01-05-2008, 01:48 AM

Good input

I guess the hose and design will have to address these concerns and others.
I think proof of concept using a suitable hose would be in order. I am thinking if they make an aquarium hose of suitable diameter it possibly might suit this application.

I'm pretty happy with the 2nd or 3rd pull of beer as well...the goal of this premise is for good beer at 1'st pull and subsequent pulls similar in caliber due to longer cold conditioning / fining time.

The main thing I like with this premise is the possibly of improving the overall racking process like the autosiphon / orange carboy caps / wort wizard.

Cheers
BeerCanuck

Soulive · 01-05-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeerCanuck

Good input

I guess the hose and design will have to address these concerns and others.
I think proof of concept using a suitable hose would be in order. I am thinking if they make an aquarium hose of suitable diameter it possibly might suit this application.

I'm pretty happy with the 2nd or 3rd pull of beer as well...the goal of this premise is for good beer at 1'st pull and subsequent pulls similar in caliber due to longer cold conditioning / fining time.

The main thing I like with this premise is the possibly of improving the overall racking process like the autosiphon / orange carboy caps / wort wizard.

Cheers
BeerCanuck

But still, how would the last pint being sedimenty differ from the first pint being sedimenty. IMO I'd rather the first pint contain sediment than the last, since its inevitable one way or the other...

**Bobby_M** · 01-05-2008, 01:55 AM

Great concept. Fact is, the clearest beer will always be at the top of the column. I can imagine that once the beer gets clear in a traditional keg, the upper part of the column had been clear for at least a week more. I like it. Make it work.

I start drinking well before it gets clear and if I don't attack the keg with full force, by the time the keg is half empty, it starts clearing up. Not only that but I still contend that the beer carbs from the top down.

**FSR402** · 01-05-2008, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

Great concept. Fact is, the clearest beer will always be at the top of the column. I can imagine that once the beer gets clear in a traditional keg, the upper part of the column had been clear for at least a week more. I like it. Make it work.

I start drinking well before it gets clear and if I don't attack the keg with full force, by the time the keg is half empty, it starts clearing up. Not only that but I still contend that the beer carbs from the top down.

I like the idea too. The last pull of a keg gets you a crap load of foam anyways. Or in the case of this pale I'm trying to kill off tonight I get foam, then beer, then foam, then beer. It's been that way for the last 5 pints. Will this damn thing ever end?

Good thing I don't have to run until 8am.

Snakebone · 01-05-2008, 02:11 AM

Should work, just make the intake is beneath the beers surface.